7. Buskett


When one thinks 'woodland' in Malta, one usually thinks Buskett. That little valley packed with pine, cypress, oak, poplar, ash and other species of tree works a little magic on us who love nature: it's the only spot on this sun-bleached rock where you can almost, fleetingly, imagine yourself lost in a forest. Buskett means "small wood" and it IS tiny by any standards. But that renders it even more precious, a rare refuge for tree-loving wildlife, including birds like marsh harriers who annually make a night stopover while on their autumn trip to Africa. For all its tiny size, Buskett is a listed Important Bird Area, a Bird Sanctuary and Natura 2000 site. But despite its ecological value and all its titles, this natural gem is still being (mis)managed as just another garden! Copyright to Birdlife Malta.